And once again this year the time has come for balance sheets. The "real" 2014 is about to end, the football one instead has already closed its doors so it's time to draw up the usual scoreboard. In order to avoid controversy, let's immediately clarify the criterion: in giving marks we will take into consideration the whole year, not just the second part.
Juventus, vote 8
The gold medal goes to the Lady and this is no surprise. Although it ended in defeat, 2014 for Juventus was of the highest level. The record scudetto (102 points) is undoubtedly the most prestigious effigy, unforgettable for all Juventus fans. The second part also went quite well: first place in the standings and qualification for the round of XNUMX of the Champions League, a real step forward compared to last season. The transition from the Conte era to the Allegri era was managed well: it wasn't easy yet there was no backlash, if not minimally. Of course, not all that glitters is gold. The defeat in the Super Cup goes hand in hand with the elimination from the Europa League, demonstrating that Juve are strong, not unbeatable. The others have the task of understanding it and trying to remove her from the throne.
Rome, vote 7
Second place to Roma, just like in the current standings and last season's. On the other hand, the numbers, while not explaining everything, hardly lie. The Giallorossi had a very good 2014, proving to be close to the definitive leap in quality. The one that, at the end of the year, brings championships and cups, not just the compliments of critics and fans. Perhaps we're almost there in the championship: today's second place is very different from that of a year ago. In fact, now there is the feeling that Roma can really try, then it remains to be seen if they will make it. The disappointment concerns the cups, in which the Giallorossi have proved to be still immature. It was like this in the Champions League (the group was difficult but, the way it was, we could have gone through) but also in the Italian Cup, where Garcia's men were eliminated by Napoli. In any case, a year that was sufficient to take the silver medal, but in a year it will be different. Because now is the time to win, otherwise applause will give way to criticism.
Naples, vote 6
Difficult to judge Napoli, if only because, in the eyes, we have the Italian Super Cup just lifted in Doha. However, a trophy cannot totally invalidate a judgement, especially if it arrived in a straight match and not at the end of a direct elimination process. Strange team that of Benitez, basically very similar to his coach, for better or for worse. Very tough in the 90's from inside or out, full of limits in the long run. Rafa has built a career in the cups, but he has rarely convinced in the championships and Napoli seems to have embraced this line. The judgment is sufficient because the team won the Italian Cup, the Super Cup and qualified for the Champions League preliminaries. From which, however, it came out badly against the modest Athetic Bilbao, reaching the lowest point of 2014. There is also a latent dissatisfaction in the air of the square, eager to fight for the title, not for the lowest step of the podium together to the surprises of Genoa and the lame Milanese. The coming months will be decisive: in fact, in a year's time we will need much bigger goals than those achieved so far.
Inter/Milan, vote 5
Insufficient both, albeit in different "periods". The Nerazzurri did quite well in the first six months of the year, as well as the Rossoneri in the last few months. The rest however was a disaster, that's why we decided to give a full 5 to both of them, without rewarding either one. Let's start with Inter, in strict alphabetical order. All in all, from January to June, the path had been quite linear, albeit with some slip-ups which, in hindsight, should have been more alarming. Instead, total trust in Walter Mazzarri, complete with an extended contract. In times of economic crisis (and that of Inter is quite big) not really a stroke of genius. In fact, WM didn't remove the dirt, he just hid it under the carpet (read qualification for the Europa League): however, when this became too much, he came out in all its drama. Now there's Mancini, a glamorous coach with a curriculum vitae, but still unable to perform miracles. We'll see if he succeeds later, perhaps helped by the transfer market in January (yes, but with what money?), In the meantime, however, the eleventh place in the standings says much more than words...
Reverse path instead for Milan. From 4 dry the first part of the year, sufficient the second. Hence the current 5 which, however, for obvious reasons, does not affect Filippo Inzaghi, but yes the company. In fact, 2014 for the Rossoneri was one of the Galliani/Barbara quarrels (the one that led to Allegri's sacking is memorable), the incomprehensible Seedorf affair (first dragged to the bench with millions, then fired in a bad way), the difficult management of some elements of the squad (above all Balotelli), of the failure to qualify for the cups after 15 years. In short, a disaster across the board which, however, was followed by an interesting restyling. Trust in Inzaghi, a man of the house and a symbol of a past of victories, but above all a hard worker. And the work itself would seem to bear some interesting fruits, as demonstrated by the latest prestigious results against Naples and Rome. Let's be clear, Superpippo still has everything to prove just like Milan, but a good vote of encouragement would fit everything. If only the year lasted 6 months…
